The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Town of Babylon and to address the findings of fact and statutory authority in §
189-1. This chapter seeks to meet those purposes by achieving the following objectives:
A. Establish minimum stormwater and erosion and sediment
control requirements in order to protect and safeguard the general
health, safety, and welfare of the public and businesses located within
the Town of Babylon by implementation of a stormwater management program
(SWMP) that meets or exceeds the following six minimum control measures:
(1) Public education and outreach on stormwater impacts;
(2) Public involvement/participation;
(3) Illicit discharge detection and elimination;
(4) Construction site stormwater runoff control;
(5) Postconstruction stormwater management;
(6) Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal
operations consistent with the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation SPDES general permit for stormwater discharges from municipal
separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s) GP-02-02, issued pursuant
to Article 17, Titles 7 and 8, and Article 70 of the New York State
Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and the federal Clean Water Act
(CWA) regulations for small municipal separate storm sewer systems
(MS4s) or as amended or revised.
B. Require land development activities to conform to
the substantive requirements of the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES)
general permit for construction activities GP-02-01 or as amended
or revised.
C. Minimize increases in stormwater runoff from land
development activities in order to reduce flooding, siltation, increases
in stream temperature, and stream bank erosion and to maintain the
integrity of stream channels.
D. Minimize increases in pollution caused by stormwater
runoff from land development activities that would otherwise degrade
local water quality.
E. Minimize the total annual volume of stormwater runoff
that flows from any specific site during and following development
to the maximum extent practicable (MEP).
F. Reduce stormwater runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion
and nonpoint source pollution, wherever possible, through stormwater
management practices and to ensure that these management practices
are properly maintained and eliminate threats to public safety.
The terms used in this chapter or in documents
prepared or reviewed pursuant to this chapter shall have the meanings
as set forth in this section.
ACCESSORY BUILDING
A building or a detached private garage subordinate to the
main building on a lot, used for purposes customarily incidental to
those of the main building, not used for habitation and which does
not exceed the size of the main building. This shall not include trailers,
mobile homes or like structures, with or without wheels.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A structure subordinate to the buildings on a lot, used for
purposes customarily incidental to those of the buildings, having
no foundation or permanent attachment to the land other than a simple
slab, not used for habitation, swimming pool enclosures or garage
purposes and which does not exceed the size of the main building.
This shall not include trailers, mobile homes or like structures,
with or without wheels.
ACRE
Forty-three thousand, five hundred sixty square feet of land
area.
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY
The activity of an active farm, including grazing and watering
livestock, irrigating crops, harvesting crops, using land for growing
agricultural products, and cutting timber for sale, but shall not
include the operation of a dude ranch or similar operation or the
construction of new structures associated with agricultural activities.
APPLICANT
A property owner or agent of a property owner who has filed
an application for a land development activity.
BUILDING
A combination of any materials, whether portable or fixed,
having a roof to form a structure affording shelter for persons, animals
or property. The word "building" shall be construed, when used herein,
as though followed by the words "or part or parts thereof" unless
the context clearly requires a different meaning. The term "building"
shall also mean "factory manufactured home" and "mobile home."
CHANNEL
A natural or artificial watercourse with a definite bed and
banks that conducts continuously or periodically flowing water.
CLEARING
Any activity that removes the vegetative surface cover.
COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT
An agreement signed by a landowner, applicant or builder
to implement any reasonable requirements needed as determined by the
Town of Babylon necessary to prevent erosion and sediment loss in
lieu of an erosion and sediment control plan for construction on a
commercial or industrial site on less than one acre of land.
DEDICATION
The deliberate transfer of real property by its owner for
general public use.
DESIGN MANUAL
The most recent version of the New York State Stormwater
Management Design Manual, including applicable updates, that serves
as the official guide for stormwater management principles, methods
and practices.
DEVELOPER
A person who undertakes land development activities.
ENGINEERING DIVISION
The Engineering Division of the Town of Babylon Department
of Planning and Development. This Division is also the designated
Stormwater Management Office for the Town of Babylon.
EROSION CONTROL MANUAL
The most recent version of the New York Standards and Specifications
for Erosion and Sediment Control manual, commonly known as the "Blue
Book."
GRADING
Excavating, filling and/or any movement of material at a
site, including the resulting conditions thereof.
HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
The Highway Engineering Division of the Town of Babylon Department
of Public Works.
ILLICIT DISCHARGE
Any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer and or
the Town of Babylon stormwater drainage system that is not entirely
composed of stormwater. Illicit discharges shall include but not be
limited to those sources as identified by § 122.26(b)(2)
of the Code of Federal Regulations; sanitary wastewater, effluent
from septic tanks, commercial car wash wastewater, petroleum products,
antifreeze and radiator flush liquid, laundry wastewater, spills from
roadway accidents, and household and motor vehicle chemicals, but
does not include liquids discharged from fire-fighting activities.
IMPERVIOUS COVER
Those surfaces, improvements and structures that cannot effectively
infiltrate rainfall, snowmelt and water (e.g., building rooftops,
pavement, sidewalks, driveways, etc.).
INDUSTRIAL STORMWATER PERMIT
A state pollutant discharge elimination system permit issued
to a commercial industry or group of industries which regulates the
pollutant levels associated with industrial stormwater discharges
or specifies on-site pollution control strategies.
INFILTRATION
The process of percolating stormwater into the subsoil.
JURISDICTURAL WETLAND
An area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or
groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence
of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions,
commonly known as hydrophytic vegetation.
LAND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
Construction activity including clearing, grading, excavating,
soil disturbance or placement of fill.
[Amended 4-11-2007 by L.L. No. 8-2007]
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner of land, including those holding
the right to purchase or lease the land, or any other person holding
proprietary rights in the land.
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
A legally recorded document that acts as a property deed
restriction, and which provides for long-term maintenance of stormwater
management practices.
NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Pollution from any source other than from any discernible,
confined, and discrete conveyances, and shall include, but not be
limited to, pollutants from agricultural, silvicultural, mining, construction,
subsurface disposal and urban runoff sources.
PHASING
Clearing a parcel of land in distinct pieces or parts, with
the stabilization of each piece completed before the clearing of the
next.
POLLUTANT OF CONCERN
Sediment or a water quality measurement that addresses sediment
(such as total suspended solids, turbidity or siltation) and any other
pollutant that has been identified as a cause of impairment of any
water body that will receive a discharge from the land development
activity.
RECHARGE
The replenishment of underground water reserves.
SENSITIVE AREAS
Cold-water fisheries, shellfish beds, swimming beaches, groundwater
recharge areas, water supply reservoirs, and habitats for threatened,
endangered or special-concern species.
SINGLE-FAMILY AGREEMENT
An agreement signed by a landowner, applicant or builder
to implement any reasonable requirements needed, as determined by
the Town of Babylon, to prevent erosion and sediment loss in lieu
of an erosion and sediment control plan for the construction of a
single-family home.
STABILIZATION
The use of practices that prevent exposed soil from eroding.
STOP-WORK ORDER
An order issued which requires that all construction activity
on a site be stopped.
STORMWATER
Rainwater, surface runoff, snowmelt and drainage.
STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM
The Town of Babylon stormwater drainage system, which accepts,
captures and conveys stormwater from the Town's highway and roadway
system.
STORMWATER HOTSPOT
A land use or activity that generates higher concentrations
of hydrocarbons, trace metals or toxicants than are found in typical
stormwater runoff, based on monitoring studies.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The use of structural or nonstructural practices that are
designed to reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate its adverse impacts
on property, natural resources and the environment.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
One or a series of stormwater management practices installed,
stabilized and operating for the purpose of controlling stormwater
runoff.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT OFFICE
The Town of Babylon Engineering Division is designated by
the Town of Babylon as the Stormwater Management Office to accept
and conduct the primary review of stormwater pollution prevention
plans and inspect stormwater management practices. The Town of Babylon
Planning and Development Department, the Highway Engineering Division
and the Department of Environmental Control shall also review the
SWPPPs submitted by applicants to the extent possible and necessary
to insure that applicants meet the requirements of this chapter.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (SMPS)
Measures, either structural or nonstructural, that are determined
to be the most effective, practical means of preventing flood damage
and preventing or reducing point source or nonpoint source pollution
inputs to stormwater runoff and water bodies.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
A stormwater management program implemented by the Town of
Babylon consistent and in no case less protective than the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation SPDES general permits
for stormwater discharges from municipal separate stormwater sewer
systems (MS4s) and from construction activity GP-02-02 and GP-02-01,
respectively, issued pursuant to Article 17, Titles 7 and 8, and Article
70 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and
the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations for small municipal
separate storm sewer systems (MS4s).
SURFACE WATERS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Lakes, bays, sounds, ponds, impounding reservoirs, springs,
wells, rivers, streams, creeks, estuaries, marshes, inlets, canals,
the Atlantic Ocean within the territorial seas of the State of New
York and all other bodies of surface water, natural or artificial,
inland or coastal, fresh or salt, public or private (except those
private waters that do not combine or effect a junction with natural
surface or underground waters), which are wholly or partially within
or bordering the state or within its jurisdiction. Storm sewers and
waste treatment systems including treatment ponds or lagoons which
also meet the criteria of this definition are not waters of the state.
This exclusion applies only to man-made bodies of water which neither
were originally created in waters of the state (such as a disposal
area in wetlands) nor resulted from impoundment of waters of the state.
WATERCOURSE
A permanent or intermittent stream or other body of water,
either natural or man-made, that gathers or carries surface water.
WATERWAY
A channel that directs surface runoff to a watercourse or
to the public storm drain.
The following activities are exempt from review
under this chapter:
A. Agricultural activity as defined in this chapter.
B. The construction of additions, fences, accessory buildings
and structures, sheds, sidewalks, walkways, driveways or modifications
to existing one- or two-family structures and sites, including those
that may require variances, maintenance or repair involving no substantial
changes in an existing structure or facility.
C. Routine landscape maintenance and horticultural activities
such as lawn cutting, tree trimming, the installation of piped mechanical
sprinkler or irrigation systems, the planting of trees, shrubs and
vegetation in connection with an existing site that does not cause
any major soil disturbance, or minor excavations for driveways, walks
or sidewalks that generally maintain the existing grade of the land.
D. Repairs to any stormwater management practice or facility
deemed necessary by the Town of Babylon Department of Public Works
or any work done under contract for the Town of Babylon. Nothing contained
in this chapter with regards to land development activity shall be
applicable to the Town of Babylon or any of its departments, agencies
or contractors.
E. The development of any part of a subdivision if the
plat for the subdivision has been approved by the Town of Babylon
Planning Board on or before the effective date of this chapter.
F. Land development activities for which a building permit
has been approved on or before the adoption of this chapter.
H. Installation of fence, sign, telephone, and electric
poles and other kinds of posts or poles; construction of minor additions,
accessory structures or modifications to existing single-family or
two-family structures.
I. Emergency activity immediately necessary to protect
life, property or natural resources.
J. Activities of an individual engaging in home gardening
by growing flowers, vegetables and other plants primarily for use
by that person and his or her family.
K. The installation of aboveground and below-ground fuel
oil storage tanks equal to or below a total capacity of 1,100 gallons.
L. The construction of docks and installation of poles
and other similar structures, refacing existing bulkheading, but not
new bulkheading.
M. Street openings and right-of-way openings for the
purpose of repair of existing utility facilities.
N. The extension of utility distribution facilities,
including gas, electric and telephone, cable, water and sewer connections,
to serve existing approved sites or underwater lands.
All land development activities shall be subject
to the following performance and design criteria:
A. Technical standards. For the purpose of this chapter,
the following documents shall serve as official guides and specifications
for stormwater management. Stormwater management practices that are
designed and constructed in accordance with these technical documents
shall be presumed to meet the standards imposed by this chapter.
(1) The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual
(New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the most
current version or its successor, hereafter referred to as the Design
Manual).
(2) New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion
and Sediment Control (Empire State Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation
Society, 2004, most current version or its successor, hereafter referred
to as the Erosion Control Manual).
(3) The most current version of the Town of Babylon Planning
Board site improvement and subdivision specifications.
(4) United States Environmental Protection Agency's best
management practices (BMPs).
B. Water quality standards. Any land development activity
shall not cause an increase in turbidity or in a substantial visible
contrast to natural conditions in surface waters of the State of New
York.
[Amended 12-21-2016 by L.L. No. 19-2016; 4-27-2022 by L.L. No. 10-2022]
A. Erosion and sediment control inspection.
(1) A preconstruction meeting may be conducted between
the applicant and Town of Babylon Engineering Division as required.
At minimum, the following criteria shall be included in the construction
inspections:
(b)
Installation of sediment and erosion control
measures.
(c)
Completion of site clearing.
(d)
Completion of rough grading.
(e)
Completion of final grading.
(f)
Close of the construction season (as applicable).
(g)
Completion of final landscaping.
(h)
Successful establishment of landscaping in public
areas.
(2) The applicant and developer shall notify the Town of Babylon Engineering Division 24 hours in advance for inspection of items in Subsection
A(1)(a) through
A(1)(h). The Town of Babylon Engineering Division shall determine the inspection schedule and add any other inspection requirements as deemed necessary. The applicant and developer shall be notified in writing of any violations and the required corrective actions. No further work shall be conducted except for site stabilization until any violations are corrected.
B. Stormwater management practice inspections. The Town
of Babylon Engineering Division is responsible for conducting inspections
of stormwater management practices (SMPs). All applicants are required
to submit as-built plans for any stormwater management practices located
on site after final construction is completed. The plan must show
the final design specifications for all stormwater management facilities
and must be certified by a professional engineer.
C. Submission of reports. The Town of Babylon may require
monitoring and reporting from entities subject to this chapter as
are necessary to determine compliance with this law.
D. Construction completion guarantee. In order to ensure
the full and faithful completion of all land development activities
related to compliance with all conditions set forth by the Town of
Babylon in its approval of the stormwater pollution prevention plan,
the Town of Babylon Planning Board may require the applicant or developer
to provide, prior to construction, a performance bond, cash escrow,
or irrevocable letter of credit from an appropriate financial or surety
institution which guarantees satisfactory completion of the project
and names the Town of Babylon as the beneficiary. The security shall
be in an amount to be determined by the Town of Babylon based on submission
of final design plans, with reference to actual construction and landscaping
costs. The performance guarantee shall remain in force until the surety
is released from liability by the Town of Babylon, provided that such
period shall not be less than one year from the date of final acceptance
or such other certification that the facility(ies) have been constructed
in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and that
a one-year inspection has been conducted and the facilities have been
found to be acceptable to the Town of Babylon. Per annum interest
on cash escrow deposits shall be reinvested in the account until the
surety is released from liability.
E. Maintenance guarantee. Where stormwater management
and erosion and sediment control facilities are to be operated and
maintained by the developer or by a corporation that owns or manages
a commercial or industrial facility, the developer, prior to construction,
may be required to provide the Town of Babylon with an irrevocable
letter of credit from an approved financial institution or bond or
surety to ensure proper operation and maintenance of all stormwater
management and erosion control facilities both during and after construction
and until the facilities are removed from operation. If the developer
or landowner fails to properly operate and maintain stormwater management
and erosion and sediment control facilities, the Town of Babylon may
draw or foreclose upon the account or on the bond to cover the costs
of proper operation and maintenance, including engineering and inspection
costs.
F. Recordkeeping. The Town of Babylon Stormwater Management
Office may require entities subject to this chapter to maintain records
demonstrating compliance with this chapter.
G. Violations.
(1) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
or who shall fail to comply therewith or with any of the requirements
thereof or who shall build or alter or use any building or land in
violation of any detailed statement or plan submitted and approved
hereunder shall be guilty of an offense, and upon conviction thereof,
a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,500 must be imposed
and a term of imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days may
be imposed, or both, for conviction of a first offense; for conviction
of a second offense, both of which were committed within a period
of five years, a fine not less than $1,500 nor more than $2,500 must
be imposed and a term of imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15
days may be imposed, or both; and, upon conviction for a third or
subsequent offense, all of which were committed within a period of
five years, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and a fine not less than
$2,500 nor more than $5,000 must be imposed and a term of imprisonment
for a period not to exceed six months, or both. Each day's continued
violation shall constitute a separate additional offense.
[Amended 12-20-2023 by L.L. No. 25-2023]
(2) Upon application of the Town Attorney's office an offense based on
a violation of this chapter may be reduced to an "attempted offense,"
as established by the New York State Penal Law § 110. Penalties
for the reduced charge of attempt shall be:
(a)
Any person who shall attempt to violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall be guilty of an offense, and upon conviction
thereof, a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 must be imposed
and a term of imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or
both, for conviction of a first offense; for conviction of a second
offense, both of which were committed within a period of five years,
a fine not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 must be imposed and
a term of imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days may be imposed,
or both; and, upon conviction for a third or subsequent offense, all
of which were committed within a period of five years, a fine not
less than $1,000 nor more than $2,500 must be imposed and a term of
imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days may be imposed, or
both. Each day's continued violation shall constitute a separate additional
offense.
(3) Any
person found by the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication to have
violated any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a monetary
penalty of not less than $500 nor more than $1,500 for a first violation,
not less than $500 nor more than $2,500 for a second violation committed
within five years of the first violation, and not less than $2,500
nor more than $5,000 for a third or subsequent violation, all of which
were committed within a period of five years.
[Amended 12-20-2023 by L.L. No. 25-2023]
H. Stop-work orders. The Town of Babylon may issue a
stop-work order for violations of this chapter. Persons receiving
a stop-work order shall be required to halt any land development activities,
except those activities that address the violations leading to the
stop-work order. The stop-work order shall be in effect until the
Town of Babylon confirms that the land development activity is in
compliance and the violation has been satisfactorily addressed. Failure
to address a stop-work order in a timely manner may result in civil,
criminal, or monetary penalties in accordance with the enforcement
measures authorized in this chapter.
I. Injunctions. Any land development activity that is
commenced or is conducted contrary to this chapter may be restrained
by injunction or otherwise abated in a manner provided by law.
J. Withholding of certificate of occupancy. If any building
or land development activity is installed or conducted in violation
of this chapter, the Town of Babylon may withhold the issuance of
the certificate of occupancy and/or compliance to prevent the occupancy
of said building or land until corrections to all stormwater facilities
have been made.
K. Restoration of lands. In connection with any violation
of this chapter, the Town of Babylon may require complete restoration
of a site within 60 days to return such land to its undisturbed condition.
In the event that reasonable progress towards restoration of a site
is not observed by the Town of Babylon within 30 days of a violation
of this chapter, the Town of Babylon may undertake the necessary corrective
action and assess the cost of the restoration to the real property
tax for the subject location.
An application fee shall be required for review
of all land development activities; SWPPPs; commercial, industrial
and single-family agreements; inspections; or SMP maintenance performed
by the Town of Babylon or performed by a third party for the Town
of Babylon. The fee schedule shall be established by the Town Board
of Town of Babylon by resolution. All fees generated by this program
shall be credited to a revenue line identified as the Phase II stormwater
revenue line, Town of Babylon Department of Environmental Control.
Monies accumulated by the revenue line will be utilized to support
the Town of Babylon stormwater management and erosion and sediment
control program. The Town Board of the Town of Babylon may amend the
fee schedule by resolution as deemed necessary from time to time.